Maria Alonzo dances to rhythms played by the Wamidan drummers on 'Cumbia,' a popular dance from Argentina and one of 12 pieces from around the world performed Wednesday by Wamidan, the College's world music and dance ensemble.
Cameron Stewart plays adungu on 'Harambi ye', a traditional song of the Alur people of northwestern Uganda.
Wamidan Artistic Director and Professor of Music James Makubuya plays his signature instrument, the endongo (bowl lyre) on 'Nandere', a folk song of the Buganda people of Uganda.
Ryan Cairns ’17 joined Makubuya, Michael Seltzer, and Ian Callecod ’17 as quartet to play 'Gruam,' a piece played at cultural gatherings by the Aborignal people of Australia.
Elena Mezger joins the dance ensemble for a Kenyan harvest celebration dance titled 'Jenjela'.
Adalid Cruz ’15 joins the dance ensemble on 'Jenjela.'
Young Ho Park ’17 plays medinda on the opening number, 'Tubalabe', a traditional folk song common in Uganda.
Ryan Cairns plays didgeridoo.
Professor and Wamidan Artistic Director James Makubuya and Joseph Rangel ’15
Jan-Mikhael Bidon plays adungu on the Alur folk song 'Harambi ye'.
Haopeng Yan plays the adungu on 'Harambi ye.'
Playing the apila, the melody adungu.
Terry Majors ’15, Quentin Watson, and Michael Seltzer play 'Jamaican Swing' on steel drums, a new addition to the Wamidan repertoire.
Professor Makubuya and Joseph Rangel
Cameron Stewart and Joseph Rangel
Apila players on 'Harambi ye'.
Elena Mezger
Maria Alonso
Adalid Cruz
Maria Alonso rehearses 'Cumbia.'
Quentin Watson and Maria Alonso rehearse 'Cumbia.'
Cameron Stewart, Joseph Rangel, Professor James Makubuya
Quentin Watson, Adalid Cruz, Maria Alonso, and Elena Mezger rehearse 'Cumbia.'
Joseph Rangel
The evening after former National Security Director Admiral Bobby Inman offered his views on geopolitics from the Salter Hall stage, Wamidan transformed that same space into a musical trip around the world.
Playing songs from Australia, Jamaica, Uganda, and Cameroon, and performing dances from Kenya and Argentina last Wednesday, the College's world musical ensemble filled the room with exotic tunes and rhythms that highlighted the strong percussion and dance abilities of the group.
"This group has been very good throughout the academic year," said Wamidan Artistic Director and Wabash Associate Professor of Music James Makubuya. "And it all came together and translated into this final concert."